The history of the doughnut,
a sweet treat for the ages
13th June 2024
Authored by Weirdsmiths
A doughnut, or donut, is arguably one of the world’s most iconic sweet treats in one of its many shapes and forms. Though there are many varieties available, most people will likely think of a circular, soft, cakey item brandished with a glaze or icing when you mention it, and it’s this form that has become a global sugary icon.
Due to the many different types of doughnut, as well as spellings and names, it’s pretty difficult to pinpoint the place and time of its initial conception – however, the recorded history is as rich as the icing and cores found on many varietals.
Potential Origins
The core element of a doughnut is that of a piece of dough, in nigh on infinite shapes, deep fried or baked and covered with some kind of topping or filling. It’s a pretty basic recipe, and as such can likely be traced to as early as when dough was first manufactured.
There is bounties of evidence to support the fact that citizens of both the ancient Greek and Roman empires were able to indulge in early forms of the doughnut. It is known that a deep-fried dough ball, similar to a doughnut-hole, often coated in sugar or cinnamon, were regularly enjoyed in Ancient Rome; while fried strips of pastry coated with honey, or even fish sauce, were eaten in Greece.
There is also evidence to support that other doughnut varieties, like churros, can trace their origins back to Ancient China, when the Portuguese brought certain culinary techniques back to Europe from the Orient. These techniques are thought to have been perfected latterly in Spain, specifically with iconic ribbed dough that a churro is known for.
Etymology
The naming for a doughnut isn’t as old as you might think when you read about its origins, though it’s unclear as to exactly how it was referred to by ancient civilisations. An early known recorded entry of the words “dough” and “nut” together was by an American, Washington Irving, in his short story History of New York. He describes the treat in a very similar fashion to what is known of their consumption in Ancient Rome, as a ball of dough, or dough-nuts. He also refers to the balls as being olykoeks, essentially a beignet of Dutch origin.
The spelling of dough is heavily used in most parts of the world and is prominent in British English, however the Americanised version of donut is commonly found on commercialised products. The shortened version of the word is attributed to early 20th Century New York, when the NY-based Display Doughnut Machine Corporation abbreviated the word to make it easier for foreigners to pronounce.
From the mid-20th century onwards, various brands and businesses focused on doughnuts would vary with both spellings, for example Dunkin’ Donuts and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. While the longer version of the word is still a preferred spelling around the world, the Americanised shortened version has increased gradually with popularity and is now very common to see.
Types, Shapes and Techniques
Because the building blocks of a doughnut are so simple, there’s a pretty endless list of types and ways you can form them. Here are some of the most common and most popular:
Ring / Circular
A ring doughnut is one of the most common types found in bakeries around the world, iconically eaten by Homer Simpson and usually topped with a glaze or icing that hardens as a coating. There are technically two types of ring doughnuts, those that are cake-based and those that are yeast-based. Similarly, these varieties can be baked or fried, though commonly the latter is chosen for texture and taste.
The ring doughnut is made by one of two methods, pouring the mixture into a circular mould, or by making a ball and essentially cutting the middle out – creating the smaller, bite-sized, doughnut hole.
Filled
Though fillings can regularly be found in ring doughnuts, they are more commonly found in a puffed sphere of dough that have been injected with a jam, cream, chocolate, or other sweet viscous substance, for an oozing sweet bite. The dough is then often glazed or covered in a sugar for a final bit of flavour.
Old-fashioned
An old-fashioned doughnut is technically a ring, though it is different due to its imperfect shaping and cracks. These are similar to what you would find in a British seaside town, often piped directly into the oil with a harder outer shell and kept relatively simple in toppings.
Bars / Rectangles
Though given many names around the world, a rectangular doughnut is a very popular option, from the British YumYum to an American Long John. These bars are often kept simple with just a glaze, though their shape also allows for a lot of filling and consistent bites. The length of the dough also allows for unique shapes, such as twists.
Modern Doughnuts & Commercialisation
As with most food and drink, the heritage and history of the product has not prevented an absolute commercial boom in recent decades. Breakfast staples like doughnuts and coffee, in the USA, have helped to put a wide variety of businesses on the map, but the demand for these sweet treats has grown exponentially around the world, with stores like the above a common site.
Brands like Krispy Kreme and Dunkin’ Donuts have mastered the mass-production of doughnuts in a way that the quality holds up over longer periods of time. They can be purchased in their own-brand stores around the world, or even in boxes from supermarkets, petrol / gas stations and convenience stores, all with a relatively similar quality.
While the essence of a doughnut is simple, the manufacturing requires a good amount of time and utensils that the average home kitchen won’t have, so with their low cost and infinite varieties, it is much easier for the average consumer to purchase a doughnut on-the-go or for later from one of the many retail outlets available.
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